Dogs and people alike enjoy Fort Funston. Also a great place for horses and hang-gliders.

Dogs and people alike enjoy Fort Funston. Also a great place for horses and hang-gliders.

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In this file photo, Dianne Morey and Alex Panarella with a bunch of dogs on the dunes at Funston.

In this file photo, Dianne Morey and Alex Panarella with a bunch of dogs on the dunes at Funston.

Photo: Chris Hardy, The Chronicle

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In this file photo, one of the trail signs at Fort Funston in San Francisco.

In this file photo, one of the trail signs at Fort Funston in San Francisco.

Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle

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In this file photo, looking at the beach from the top of Sand Ladder at Fort Funston.

In this file photo, looking at the beach from the top of Sand Ladder at Fort Funston.

Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle

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In this file photo, visitors enjoying the lookout and cliffs of Fort Funston in San Francisco.

In this file photo, visitors enjoying the lookout and cliffs of Fort Funston in San Francisco.

Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle

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Woman injured in fall at Fort Funston

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(01-30) 17:51 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- A woman fell 50 feet down a cliff at Fort Funston in San Francisco Wednesday afternoon while trying to retrieve a dog that went over the edge earlier, according to the National Park Service.

NPS Rangers received calls reporting that the woman was climbing down the cliff face near the parking lot to get her off-leash dog, said spokeswoman and ranger Alexandra Picavet.

The women tumbled about 50 feet down to the beach. Rangers and San Francisco firefighters reached her and she was taken by helicopter to a medical center, Picavet said.

Her condition was unknown.

A San Francisco firefighter safely retrieved the dog about 75 feet below the cliff's edge using a special harness.

Picavet said it was the second time a dog had gone over the edge of the cliff this week, though the first time with injury to the owner. Park rangers respond to such incidents at least seven times a year, she said.

Most dogs are adept at getting themselves back up cliffs, and if owners find themselves in similar situations, they should not try to conduct their own rescue, Picavet said.

She warned dog owners to keep a sharper eye on their pets.

"They get distracted and chase after birds and get so excited that they fall over, run over or scramble down the cliff, causing their person to be very concerned and put themselves into extreme danger," Picavet said. "Have control of your dog. Even if you're in an area that allows off-leash dogs, a dog needs to be under voice control."

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